Jerome Gillen

Funeral Service for Jerome Jerry Robert Gillen, 76, of Herman, Minnesota will be held Monday, March 3, 2008 at 1:30 P.M. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman, Minnesota with Pastor Jennifer Rose officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Gillen, Gordon Gillen, Ben Gillen, Zachary Gillen, Lennie Engquist, Gerry Engquist, Jerry Erickson, Larry Schmidt, Gary Ritzschke, & Will Schermerhorn. Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery, rural Herman. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Jerry was born in Morris, Minnesota on June 14, 1931 to Orton and Thresa (Anderson) Gillen. He attended school at Herman, except for 7th grade which he did at Charlie Lake, British Columbia, Canada. He excelled at sports and was a four year letterman. He enlisted in the military service in January 1951 and graduated Airborne School and received his wings in July of 1951. He was discharged from the service in January of 1954 with the rank of Corporal. He married Joyce Blood one September 25, 1954 in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. Three children were born to this union: one daughter: Theresa, sons: David & Gordon. They lived in the Herman and Morris area until 1967 when Jerry moved his family to Belle Plaine, Minnesota, where they spent the next thirty years. Upon retirement from the Owens Illinois Box Plant, Jerry spent the next four years working for Hardies, and doing Security work for various companies. When Joyce retired in 1997 they returned to live in Herman. Jerry was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church, and held memberships in the American Legion and the IOOF Lodge in Herman. He was a member of the American Legion of Fergus Falls for the past year. Jerry was an avid fisherman, hunter and loved to camp and travel with his family. Jerry moved to the Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota in January of 2007. Jerry will be remembered for his love of riding his scooter all over Herman accompanied by his beloved dog, Odie. Jerry passed February 25, 2008 at the Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Jerry is survived by his wife: Joyce of Herman, sons: David Gillen of Herman, Minnesota & Gordon (Jean) Gillen of LaSeur, Minnesota, one daughter: Theresa (Jerry) Meyer of Eagan, Minnesota, one sister: Betty Prinz of Moorhead, Minnesota, six grandchildren: Zachory Gillen, Ben Gillen, Samantha Gillen, Michelle Schmidt, Michael Schmidt & Allen Schmidt, two great-grandchildren: Aiden & Ruen Schmidt, and many nieces and nephews.